The suicide of an Iranian football fan has piled pressure on her country's restrictions on women attending matches following her death on Monday from horrific injuries.

Sahar Khodayari set herself on fire last week outside a courthouse, where she was being charged for "appearing in public without a hijab".

Khodayari, known as the "Blue Girl" on social media after the colour of her favourite team Esteghlal, was arrested in March for sneaking into a football game disguised as a man.

Last week, she reportedly overheard people speculating outside the court that she could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Khodayari was charged with "openly committing a sinful act by appearing in public without hijab" and "insulting officials" at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on 2 September.

She had been stopped by security staff trying to enter Iran's national football stadium in Tehran to watch Esteghlal compete against the Emirati team Al-Ain during the AFC Asian Cup.

Since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have been prohibited from entering stadiums where men's teams are playing.

Online, people are mourning Khodayari's death using the hashtag #blue_girl and calling on football’s world governing body FIFA to take action.

#Blue_Girl and other Iranian girls are not allowed to go to stadiumsAnd they'll be arrested and in her case sentenced to 6months in jail if they try to sneak in as a manSahar Khodayari burnt herself to death in protest.When would you actually do something?@FIFAcom#fifawwcpic.twitter.com/9WZBHEFdsP

Rights groups have criticised Iran’s ban on women entering football stadiums, which is not written into law but strictly enforced by the country's authorities and security at events.

FIFA officials are expected to go to Iran within the next two weeks as part of the country's preparations to host World Cup qualifiers. Reuters reported on Wednesday that the officials "will check the preparations" made by Iran to grant women access to those matches.

In June, FIFA's president Gianni Infantino sent a letter to the Iranian football assocation saying the country must take steps to allow women in stadiums, giving a July deadline - that has now passed - to take concrete measures towards inclusion.

At the time, Infantino urged Iran to "ensure that all Iranian and foreign women who wish to do so will be allowed to buy tickets and to attend the matches of the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will start in Sepetember 2019".

Iran is set to play its first World Cup qualifier at home at the Azadi stadium against Cambodia on 10 October. However, there has been no indication that women will be allowed to attend, or if Iran will suffer consequences if it fails to permit them.

All people, including women in #Iran, have the right to enjoy the beautiful game. @FIFAcom must uphold its statutes against discrimination and follow through on its call for Iran to lift its ban on women in stadiums. Football stars/fans, please speak up for #Iran's #blue_girl. pic.twitter.com/L7oRVB1pDG

Photos of Khodayari in hospital covered in bandages from wounds have circulated widely on social media and been used to raise awareness of the issue.

Human Rights Watch called for action to be taken: "FIFA's long delay in enforcing its own rules means the ban continues and leaves the brave women and girls in Iran who challenge the ban exposed to harassment, beatings and arrests by the Iranian authorities.

"FIFA urgently needs to uphold its own human rights rules, end gender discrimination and punish violators."